Additional Info on May 27, 2011

0615, May 27, 2011: We awoke to calm waters in the harbor and decided to head out north to Elizabeth City, NC or somewhere close by.  Bill Strange helped me away from the docks and Bernie Harberts, the town news reporter came by to say farewell. 

As I rounded the bulkhead, the calm harbor turned to rolling seas with one foot swells.  I had to travel down the Neuse River for 1.5 hours in rough seas until I came to the left and the cut off to the back water channel to the Pamlico River.

I made good time to and through the canal system, a straight water way like I-75 or a landing zone for the space shuttle.  The scenery along the way was again out of this world. 

I came out of the 1^st set of canal systems at the Pamlico and had a two mile crossing and then up Rose Bay to Alligator Alley Canal which ran as straight as an arrow for about 25 miles and dumped me off into the Alligator River.  Once out of the smooth canal system the Alligator River turned into a very windy body of water with rolling 1-3 foot seas and mucho white caps.  I would rise up one wave and surf down the others.  The 26 foot length of the boat made the passage easy but very challenging. 

At the head of the Alligator was a bridge and approaching it was not an easy task.  As I kept getting closer, I kept wondering how I would get under it for it looked liked the cars were just above the water.  At the center span was a swing bridge but high enough for me to get under.  All along the way, I kept looking for a marina to pull into but nada!  Later I found out that I passed two of them but I couldn’t see them up the channels they were located on. 

After passing under the RT 64 bridge I headed across the Albemarie Sound, the largest body of water I have attempted to cross and I was still under heavy waves.  Fortuntally the waves and wind were coming from my stearn and this made travel easier but challenging.  The Sound is about 12 miles across because as I started across, I couldn’t see the other side. The ole horizon rule of navigation and being able to see only 12 miles out to sea.   In all, it took me just over 4 hours of these rolling seas to reach Elizabeth City.  I must say I didn’t enjoy this part of the trip, but what a challenging learning experience and sea trial for the other larger bodies of water I will encounter.  The boat and engine handled far better than expected and gave me the confidence for future rough seas.  In all I spent 11 hours on the water today! Tomorrow smooth canal travel through the Dismal Swamp to Norfolk, VA. 

Just before my arrival to Elizabeth City, I noticed a large Blimp Hanger and a Blimp parked outside.  I was told that this facility is where the Met-Life Blimp and all the others come from.  They even make the security operations blimp that we had over our FOBS in Iraq.  Also, a mile past this facility was the largest Coast Guard station and maintenance facility on the east coast.  Mucho jets, C130’s and very large hanger type buildings.

Elizabeth City offered some very friendly folks but nada facilities.  I was luck to find space along the city park dock wall next to two sail boats.  I was totally drained by my crossing of the Albemarie Sound and being on the water for 10 hours this day.  Sleep wasn’t easy due to the constant rocking of the boat and wave action.